France v Scotland: Strachan sees French as Euro 2016 favourites

Gordon Strachan believes his Scotland side will be facing the rightful favourites for Euro 2016 when they take on France in Metz on Saturday evening.

The friendly is Les Bleus’ final warm-up before they kick off their home tournament against Romania in Paris six days later.

Strachan accepts the match is as tough a test as his men could have faced.

“I imagine they would be the favourites, I can see why people would say that,” he told BBC Scotland.

“But, I can also see why people don’t want to face Italy, with their defence, and England, Germany and Belgium, with these fantastic players they’ve got now.

“But the French must be the favourites. They’ve got players in there that can win games.

“It just shows you, it’s not all about systems, it’s about the players you’ve got in that system.”
‘Real brilliance’ in French ranks

Strachan has spent more than a week with the squad already, with half that time being in Malta as they prepare for a tilt at the World Cup qualifiers which begin in September, back on the southern European Mediterranean island.

It has also allowed Strachan and his coaching team time to concoct a way of shocking the French on home soil, including watching their 3-2 friendly win over Cameroon.